WaterNSW announces temporary restrictions on Barwon-Darling

WaterNSW announces temporary restrictions on Barwon-Darling

Temporary restrictions on A, B and C class water access licences in the Barwon-Darling Unregulated River will be in place from 9 March, WaterNSW announced today.

Flows from Queensland down the Moonie River are expected to reach the Barwon-Darling within days.

The temporary restrictions are intended to safeguard these low flows entering the river, to ensure access to water for downstream towns, domestic and stock uses, as well as licence holders requiring water for permanent plantings.

The restriction limits the taking of water to:

(a) Town water supply

(b) Domestic use

(c) Stock watering

(d) Irrigation of existing permanent plantings such as vineyards and orchards

The temporary water restrictions have been enacted on the back of recent widespread rainfall across Queensland catchments of the Barwon-Darling River system.

Estimates suggest river flows should at least be re-established to Bourke, and potentially sufficient to refill the Bourke weir pool.

The flow is not expected to reach Wilcannia and therefore will not provide any benefit to the Lower Darling.

WaterNSW will continue to closely monitor the situation so that these restrictions can be removed once appropriate to do so.